A veteran Chicago-area gym teacher pushed out of his job over a two-word social-media post in support of ICE said Sunday that the experience was “devastating and surreal.”
James Heidorn, a “beloved” longtime educator at Gary Elementary School in West Chicago, came under heavy fire by hysterical community activists and local lawmakers when he wrote “GO ICE” on Facebook last month in response to a news story about local cops pledging to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
“This process has been professionally and personally devastating and surreal,” Heidorn told Fox News Digital.
“I’ve spent 14 years building my career, pouring my heart into teaching kids, building relationships and being a positive role model,” he said.
“To see it all upended over two simple words, ‘Go ICE,’ where I expressed my personal support for law enforcement felt like a severe blow to my career.”
Heidorn’s “GO ICE” posting had sparked an outrage brushfire in his heavily Hispanic school district, culminating with the teacher being placed on leave and then dragged in to meet with HR on Jan. 22.
The phys ed instructor briefly quit before rescinding his resignation later that day and was going to return to school the following Monday as the investigation continued.
But the torch-and-pitchfork brigade already had already been whipped into a frenzy.
Illinois state Sen. Karina Villa, who in September was caught on video chasing ICE agents down the street, condemned the teacher’s “disturbing” Facebook post while claiming she stood in “unwavering solidarity” with families who were upset by it.
Before the investigation even ran its course, West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey posted a video of his own on Facebook denouncing Heidorn’s pro-ICE post as “hurtful” and “offensive” to many in the community.
“The issue is we have trusted adults who are the ones that care for those kids when they can’t be with their mom and their dad,” Bovey said. “So to have someone cavalierly rooting on — as if it’s a football game or something, yeah go — events which have traumatized these children… that is the issue,” he said.
Bovey even arranged for a “listening session” for members of the school community — complete with a Spanish translator — in which parents and locals raked Heidorn over the coals, calling his post “cruel” and claiming “kids do not feel safe” as a result.
“This started with a two-word comment on my personal Facebook page supporting law enforcement—nothing more,” Heidorn said. “It wasn’t directed at any student, family or school community.
“Second, I was placed on leave and faced intense pressure before any full investigation or fair process could play out, with this it led to my resignation.
“Third, I lost my career, my income and the chance to close out my time with my students properly—no farewell, no goodbyes.”
The ousted educator told the outlet that the hardest part of being pushed out of his job was the loss of close relationships with students he cultivated over the years — which included pupils from all backgrounds.
“Emotionally, it’s been a roller coaster that has me feeling a great deal of shock, loss and deep sadness over losing daily contact with my students,” Heidorn said.
“Feelings of anger and frustration at how quickly things escalated without real dialogue, and grief for not getting to say a proper goodbye to the kids I cared so much for,” he said. “I’ve had sleepless nights.
“But I’m trying to stay focused on my family and the support I’ve received from people who know the real me.”
After a hearing with school officials, Heidorn resigned a second time before he could be fired.
As a result of the uproar, Heidorn also lost his gig coaching soccer at a nearby private school, and he will be required to explain to jobs he applies for why he resigned from Gary Elementary School, leaving his future in education up in the air.
“I really don’t know what is next for me, as the teaching profession has been, up to this point in time, all that I ever wanted to do,” he told the outlet.
“It is all I have ever studied for and teaching is what has defined me. Even advancing my education with a master’s degree in educational leadership because I wanted to become the best teacher I can be.”
Some supporters in the community have rallied behind Heidorn, even launching a GoFundMe page on his behalf, calling him a “beloved physical education teacher” who “showed up every day for his students.”